Section
8.325 [Steering Committee Designated as Administering Entity.]
8.325.1 [Composition of Steering Committee.]
8.325.2 [Duties and Responsibilities.]
8.325.3 [Parks Assessment Fund to Be Administered by Steering Committee.]
8.325.4 [Parks First Program and Trust Fund.]
8.325.5 Open and Competitive Process to Allocate Assessment Funds.
The City Council designates the L.A. FOR KIDS Steering Committee (Steering Committee) as the administering entity of:
(a) the L.A. FOR KIDS Program, pursuant to Section 9 of Proposition K;
(b) the City’s program for use of funds from the Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention, Tree Planting, Senior and Youth Recreation, Beaches and Wildlife Protection Act of 1992 (Proposition A);
(c) the City’s program for use of funds from the Los Angeles County Park, Beach and Recreation Act of 1996 (Proposition A-II);
(d) the City’s program for use of funds from the California Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 12);
(e) the City’s program for use of funds from the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 40);
(f) the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Specific Plan Parks First Program; and
(g) the City’s program for use of funds from the Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Protection Measure of 2016 (Measure A).
SECTION HISTORY
Chapter and Section Added by Ord. No. 171,606, Eff. 6-28-97.
Amended by: Ord. No. 173,802, Eff. 4-6-01; Ord. No. 173,964, Eff. 6-18-01; Ord. No. 174,870, Eff. 11-26-02; Subsec. (e) amended and Subsecs. (f) and (g) added, Ord. No. 186,580, Eff. 4-30-20.
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the City Administrative Officer, who shall be the chairperson, the Mayor, and the Chief Legislative Analyst, or their respective designees. The following shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the Steering Committee: The City Engineer; the General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks; the General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department or a successor department; the General Manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs; the General Manager of the Library Department; and a City Council staff person appointed by the President of the City Council. Each of the members and the ex-officio members may designate someone to act on that member’s behalf.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 171,606, Eff. 6-28-97.
Amended by: Ord. No. 173, 363, Eff. 7-29-00, Oper. 7-1-00; Ord. No. 173,802, Eff. 4-6-01; Ord. No. 174,870, Eff. 11-26-02; Second Sentence, Ord. No. 181,192, Eff. 7-27-10; Ord. No. 182,718, Eff. 10-30-13; Ord. No. 187,122, Eff. 8-8-21.
The Steering Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities and others as the City Council may add:
(a) Administer the expenditure of assessment funds and be responsible for the overall management of the L. A. FOR KIDS Program;
(b) Administer the use and expenditure of funds from Propositions A, A-II, 40, 12, and Measure A, including overseeing a competitive grant process for use of Roberti-z’Berg-Harris block grants and Murray Hayden Urban Parks grants, which process shall be substantially similar to the competitive process for use of Proposition K funds, and any other competitive grant processes established by the City Council for programs administered by the Steering Committee;
(c) Submit to the City Council for approval an annual plan of projects, which shall include, but not be limited to, identification of the general nature, location, and extent of acquisition and improvements for all projects to be funded in the year and priorities for the long-term;
(d) Submit recommendations on the composition of Volunteer Neighborhood Oversight Committees for projects in Regional Parks;
(e) Develop financing alternatives;
(f) Submit an annual report to the City Council on the status of the L. A. FOR KIDS Program and provide for public distribution of the annual report;
(g) Oversee the following activities:
(1) Monitoring of the status of projects, costs, and schedules of projects funded by Propositions K, A, A-II, 12, 40, and Measure A, in the participating City departments and commissions;
(2) Preparation of the annual City Engineer assessment reports by the Bureau of Engineering; and
(3) Development of computer tapes to be sent to the County Assessor each year by the Information Technology Agency.
(h) Administer the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Specific Plan Parks First Program Trust Fund and be responsible for the overall management of the Parks First Program and all expenditures from the Parks First Fund.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 171,606, Eff. 6-28-97.
Amended by: Ord. No. 173,802, Eff. 4-6-01; Ord. No. 173,964, Eff. 6-18-01; Ord. No. 174,870, Eff. 11-26-02; Subsecs. (b) and (g)(1), Ord. No. 186,580, Eff. 4-30-20.
The Parks Assessment Fund, established in Section 16 of Proposition K, shall be administered by the Steering Committee. Staffing for the work of the Steering Committee shall be provided by the Director of the Office of Administrative and Research Services.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 171,606, Eff. 6-28-97.
Amended by: Ord. No. 173, 363, Eff. 7-29-00, Oper. 7-1-00.
Parks First Program and Trust Fund. The Parks First Program is set forth in the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Specific Plan, Ordinance No. 173,749, and the Vermont/Western Station Neighborhood Area Plan in Council File No. 00-1999. The Parks First Trust Fund is established and described in Chapter 126 of Division 5 of this Code.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 173,964, Eff. 6-18-01.
Section 6 of Proposition K orders the establishment by ordinance of an open and competitive process to allocate assessment funds equitably citywide in accordance with the priorities as stated in Section 6 of Proposition K. That process shall be conducted at the times recommended by the L.A. For Kids Steering Committee and approved by the City Council in accordance with this Ordinance.
(a) Definitions.
“Assessment” means the assessment levied within the City pursuant to Proposition K.
“Assessment District” or “District” means City of Los Angeles Landscaping and Lighting District 96-1, the boundaries of which shall be conterminous with the boundaries of the City.
“City Council” means the City Council of the City of Los Angeles.
“City Engineer” means the City Engineer of the City of Los Angeles.
“City Engineer’s Report” means the report prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972.
“Improvements” means park or recreational improvements including, but not limited to, land preparation such as grading, leveling, cutting and filling sod, landscaping, irrigation systems, sidewalks, and drainage; lights, playground equipment, play courts and public restrooms; maintenance and servicing of improvements; and acquisition of land for park, recreational, or open-space purposes.
“L.A. FOR KIDS Program” means the program established pursuant to Section 9 of Proposition K for the expenditure of assessment funds and the overall management of the improvement projects.
“Non-Profit Organization” means any charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which has among its purposes the provision of park, recreation or community services or facilities, providing services to youth or providing gang prevention and intervention services.
“Park” means a tract, lot or parcel of land with scenic, natural, open-space or recreational values, set apart to conserve natural, scenic, cultural, historical or ecological resources for present and future generation, and to be used by the public as a place for rest, recreation, education, exercise, inspiration or enjoyment.
“Steering Committee” means L.A. FOR KIDS Steering Committee, the administering entity designated by City Council as authorized by Section 9 of Proposition K.
(b) The City Engineer shall develop a Request for Proposal process and documents (RFP) pursuant to all applicable federal, state, and local ordinances and regulations. The RFP will be approved by the Steering Committee and City Council, and will be subject to City Attorney approval as to form and legality prior to the commencement of each funding cycle.
(c) Funding availability for the open and competitive process will be recommended by the City Engineer and approved by the Steering Committee and City Council prior to the commencement of each funding cycle.
(d) In order to be eligible to participate in the open and competitive process, applicants must be either 1) a nonprofit organization, 2) a City department or 3) other governmental entity. All applicants must demonstrate financial ability to provide programming and programming staff once the capital improvements are completed. All funded projects must be physically located within the boundaries of the Assessment District. Any park or facility acquired, developed, restored or maintained with funds derived under Proposition K shall be open and accessible to the public without discrimination as to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious belief, national origin, marital status, physical or medical handicap, or medical condition. Reasonable public access, as defined in Section 8 of Proposition K, to lands and facilities acquired with funds made available pursuant to Proposition K shall be provided except where that access may interfere with resources protection.
(e) Competitive funds will be awarded to improvement projects in the following categories during the 30 year period in which the Assessment is levied and collected:
1. Regional Recreation/Educational Facilities (capital improvements at regional recreation/ educational facilities): $20,000,000
2. Neighborhood at-risk youth recreation facilities (capital improvements at neighborhood at-risk youth recreation facilities): $20,000,000
3. Youth schools/recreation projects (recreational improvements at schools under joint-use agreements with Department of Recreation and Parks): $20,000,000
4. Aquatic upgrades (upgrade & expand pool facilities, water playgrounds and slides): $16,000,000
5. Athletic Fields (improvements to athletic fields and courts): $16,650,000
6. Lighting (lighting of sports fields, tennis complex and baseball diamonds): $16,000,000
7. Urban greening (greenery for graffiti prevention, tree planting, and community gardens): $15,000,000
8. Acquisition of parks/natural lands (City or City/private partnership to acquire land to be owned by the City): $20,000,000
The amounts assigned to each category are the total amounts of funding for the entire 30 year period. Competitive grants may not be funded from each category during each funding cycle. The RFP for each funding cycle will specify the amounts and categories for which proposals will be accepted.
(f) Pursuant to Section 6 of Proposition K, priority will be given to projects that address one or more of the following criteria: 1) include an at-risk youth component, either by including training and employment of at-risk youth to implement the project or by providing facilities to serve at-risk youth; 2) serve an area without similar services or facilities; 3) permit expansion of an established, successful program to serve a larger population or to provide an increase in services; 4) demonstrate community support; 5) demonstrate high cost-effectiveness; 6) demonstrate readiness of project; 7) demonstrate sustainability of project; 8) demonstrate financial management capability; 9) demonstrate availability of additional funding to serve an under served area that lacks adequate services or facilities for children; and 10) meet other criteria as may be established by City Council. The relative value afforded to the selection criteria will be included in the RFP.
(g) The City Engineer will be responsible for reviewing all applications meeting the basic eligibility requirements of the RFP. The City Engineer will establish selection panels to review each application and rate the proposal according to the criteria described in the RFP. The selection panel shall be comprised of individuals familiar with the type of improvements proposed under the competitive grant categories described in Section 6 of this Ordinance. Panel members may include representatives of the Los Angeles City Youth Council, City departments, other governmental entities, community-based organizations, community residents or other eligible persons designated by the City Engineer. A representative, employee, board member, officer, and/or trustee of a nonprofit organization, City department or other governmental entity applying for a competitive grant will be prohibited from participating in the selection process. Upon completion of selection panel scoring, the City Engineer will make recommendations to the Steering Committee and City Council for funding the competitive grants. Pursuant to Section 6 of Proposition K, all funds administered under the open and competitive process shall be expended equitable Citywide.
(h) The Steering Committee’s annual plan required by Section 13 of Proposition K shall include the projects selected for competitive grants.
(i) Pursuant to Section 6 of Proposition K, the Steering Committee shall promulgate regulations for the administration of competitive grants.
(j) In case any provision of this Ordinance shall be found or declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected or impaired by that ruling.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 175,654, Eff. 1-3-04.